REPORT HAS BEAVER'S GROUP DONATING $200,000 TO CAMPAIGN

June 16, 1998

Final spending reports for the NC MLB ballpark
referendum last month in the Triad area showed that ballpark
proponents spent $899,000 on the campaign, "while the
opponents -- and victors -- raised $33,000," according to
Robert Lamme of the Greensboro NEWS & RECORD. Ballpark
supporters spent about $16.26 for each vote cast in support
of the tax, while opponents of the tax spent "approximately"
$.34 cents per vote. The ballpark initiative failed by a
"nearly" 2-to-1 margin on May 5. The ballpark supporters,
Vote Yes For MLB, received two contributions of $50,000 from
NC Major League Baseball (NC MLB) in the last few days
before the election. NC MLB is led by NC business exec Don
Beaver, who heads an ownership group looking to bring an MLB
team to the state. NC MLB contributed "at least" $200,000
during the campaign. Vote Yes For MLB received 99% of its
contributions from corporations (NEWS & RECORD, 6/16).